7/20/2024
Marshalltown Speedway
Ward gets 100th IMCA Modified win at Marshalltown Speedway, Reynolds, Carter, Dhondt, Raffurty, and Grady also see checkers
July 19, 2024
MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA
Marshalltown Speedway was back on its regular Friday night of racing this week, and it was one for the record books as Tim Ward captured his 100th IMCA Friesen Performance Modified victory. Kaden Reynolds got out in front and was gone in the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature, and Brayton Carter had no trouble in snagging the IMCA Friesen Performance Northern SportMod victory. It was Calvin Dhondt adding to his list of wins in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, as did Cristian Grady in the IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts, and Dillon Raffurty made the trip up from Kansas City, Missouri pay off when he saw checkers in the IMCA Stealth STARS Mod Lites.
The Mod Lite 15 lap feature, presented by Knight Sanitation, was up first.
Travis Stensland started on the outside front row and jumped to the immediate lead when the race went green. His nice lead would disappear when a yellow flag flew at lap six, closing the field for the restart. Dillon Raffurty had been closing on the front runners, was in third place when the race restarted, and wasted no time in taking his ride topside, and soon had the lead. Another yellow at lap ten was no issue for Raffurty as he shot off from the field, and pulled away in the closing laps to take the easy win. Jason Massengarb, Colona, Illinois started fourth, ran up front the entire race, but had to be content with the runner up spot. Third went to eleventh place starter, Jon Padilla, Silvis, Illinois, fourth was Josh May, and ninth place starter Alex Eischeid rounded out the top five. Raffurty also won the second night of the King of the High Banks back on April 12 before the regular season began.
It was 16 laps of SportMod feature racing up next, presented by Rugged Radios.
Chris Burke led the first four laps of the race but a slide job by Eddie Ingram, Kansas City, Kansas put him in the lead on lap five. Meanwhile, Brayton Carter had been working himself forward from starting in the ninth position, and was eyeing the leader. Just after lap eleven was scored, Carter nosed by Ingram, only to have a yellow wave, reverting the line up in Ingram's favor on the restart. It didn't take long after the green waved, and "Speedy Bray" Carter had the lead. It was all Carter's race from there on out as he raced his hotrod to the checkers first, his third in the regular season, after having also won the Frostbuster special back on April 5. Ingram just held off Colton Livezey at the line as they went second and third respectively. Carter VandenBerg and Jenae Gustin completed the top five.
The Stock Car 20 lap feature, presented by Drury Automotive saw Kaden Reynolds lead from start to finish in the race that went caution free after lap one's yellow. Kyle Olson tried to reel in Reynolds, but at the checkers, it was Reynold's winning easily, and Olson taking second place. Following a good distance behind in third was visiting Vinton, Iowa racer Dakoda Sellers, ninth place starter Michael Jaennette was fourth, and Jay Schmidt was fifth. This was Reynold's second feature win of the season.
The Modified 20 lap main event, presented by Tire Demon by Love Tap, was one for the record books.
David Brown, Kellogg, Iowa started on the outside of the front row, and held down the lead through the first three circuits. Tim Ward started fifth, and had the lead at lap three. Behind him it was a battle between Dallon Murty and Dylan Thornton for the number two position. Thornton established second place, and then began his quest to reel in leader Ward. He got close enough to try a slide in corner four as the white flag waved, but it was to no avail, and Ward went home to the victory....his 100th IMCA Modified win. Thornton had to settle for the runner up spot, Murty took third place, Tripp Gaylord was fourth, and tenth place starter Todd Shute was fifth.
The Sport Compacts ran their 15 lap feature next, presented by Hy-Vee of Marshalltown.
Kord Sellers, Vinton, Iowa led the field on lap one, with sixth place starter David Kimmel, New Virginia, Iowa running in second place. Kimmel passed Sellers for the lead at lap two and now had to worry about Cristian Grady, ninth place starter, running the topside, who was soon breathing down his tailpipes. A yellow flew at lap four, and when the race returned to green, Kimmel was able to hold off Grady for a while, but it was Grady taking over on lap seven. It was Grady's race the rest of the way to the checkers as he won going away, matching his win from last week's Thursday night race, and his third of the season. Spencer Roggentien, Amana, Iowa got by Kimmel in the closing laps as they went second and third respectively. Following a good distance behind in fourth place, it was Jeremy Williams, and Campbell Tressler, Cedar Falls, Iowa was fifth.
The final event of the evening was the 16 lap Hobby Stock feature, presented by Big 8 Tyre Center.
Eric Knutson started third on the grid, and had the lead quickly. By lap two, fifth place starter Calvin Dhondt was running second, and sizing up the leader. The two ran closely lap after lap, with Dhondt finally able to take over the top spot just past the halfway point in the race. Cory VanDerWilt was pestering second place runner Knutson for the final circuits as the race wore down. Dhondt held the top spot and snagged his fourth feature win of the year, Knutson held off VanDerWilt as they went second and third, and it was Sam West taking fourth, and tenth place starter Bradly Graham was fifth.
Next Friday night, July 26, will be a special night at the speedway when the SLMR Super Late Models come to town for the running of the Dale DeFrance Memorial. The Late Models will run a 44 lap main event...the car number of Dale DeFrance, and be on the hunt for the $4,400 to win feature. The IMCA Modifieds will be running for $1500, the IMCA Stock Cars for $750, and the IMCA SportMods and Hobby Stocks, $500 to win. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 with racing to follow.
Article Credit: Joyce Eisele
Submitted By: Jerry Vansickel
Article Media
